The dark magic that had stained the sky red was gone.

Only a pure blue backdrop remained.

With the gentle sea breeze sweeping in, the scene of a clear summer day unfolded before us.

Charlotte stood amidst the peaceful ripples.

Occasional waves splashed at her feet.

*Woosh...*

Only the refreshing echo of the broken surf lingered.

Charlotte stared at the scene in a daze.

Her lips, enveloped in silence, held a faint blush that hadn’t yet faded.

*“...”*

It was a peculiar kind of domain.

It was beautiful.

As if she were dreaming.

Just moments ago, they were surrounded by crimson mist, drowning in a tide of blood, and only horrifying dissonance echoed through the dark fog.

Yet now, in the blink of an eye, they found themselves in a completely different world.

*“Please draw attention for just a moment.”*

*“I will give the signal.”*

It had happened in an instant.

*“Now.”*

The boy had leaped with a quick clap.

In a heartbeat, he appeared behind the embodiment of sin, grabbing the woman's nape without a moment’s hesitation.

What followed was just a simple gesture.

*“Shatter.”*

But it was enough.

As his fingers clenched, cracks spread through the air.

The crimson background shattered into countless fragments, revealing layer upon layer of blue sky through the fissures.

A scene where red and blue intertwined.

It was breathtakingly beautiful.

*Splash, splash...*

The boy walked towards her in silence.

His calm steps treaded across the wide sea.

He held a woman in his arms.

She slept peacefully, as if her corruption had been nothing but a lie. No trace of darkness remained around her.

Charlotte, lost in thought, watched them approach.

*‘How...’*

How had he done it?

To purify someone corrupted by dark magic.

It defied common sense.

Despite all her experiences in pursuing the cult, Charlotte had never heard of such a thing being possible.

It was like something out of the scriptures.

*‘I was wrong.’*

Charlotte realized she had been mistaken.

In the back alleys and during the placement test.

What she saw of the boy's power back then was only a fraction of the truth.

The serpent exuded an almost divine aura.

She had met many powerful figures—professors, the dean, even the *Sword Saint*—as a princess, but she had never felt so powerless.

Was this what it was like for creatures to behold their god for the first time?

*‘It’s strange.’*

Fear crept up, but it was overshadowed by curiosity.

Charlotte did not think the boy was evil.

This was the conclusion she had reached after watching him.

He had no greedy desires, was merciful rather than cruel, and was not selfish enough to treat others callously.

Nor did he emit the foul stench that clung to most adults.

Only—

*“I just... wanted you not to be hurt.”*

A smile that shone brightly.

A refreshing winter scent.

An aura of pure innocence.

Others might not have noticed, but with her special sight, Charlotte could see it clearly.

A being who had never lost the innocence of their youth.

*“...”*

Charlotte watched in silence.

Whether he knew of her swirling thoughts or not, the boy simply walked forward with a steady gait.

Holding the unconscious woman carefully in his arms.

*‘Perhaps...’*

The thought came unbidden.

Maybe it was possible.

She had been unsure before and had only watched, but witnessing a miracle firsthand changed things.

A ray of hope shone through the despair-filled situation.

*‘He might be able to heal me.’*

A short whisper of hope.

As she mulled over that possibility, a voice reached her ears, filled with pain.

*“Sister...”*

Charlotte’s face, rare in its expression, faltered.

Amid the gentle breeze, she stood there, lost in thought.

---

The concert came to an end.

With the *manifestation* subdued and the dark magic that had tainted the surroundings shattered, there was no more danger left.

I walked forward, holding the limp body of Lady Medro.

*“...”*

The rescued Medro was unconscious.

She hadn’t suffered any damage, just completely exhausted her strength.

She would likely wake up in due time.

*Step, step...*

I crossed the calm sea and stepped once more onto the warm sands.

There, someone awaited me.

A girl with a dazed look.

Charlotte snapped out of her trance when I spoke.

“Your Highness.”

“Oh.”

“Let’s head back.”

“...Alright.”

Charlotte nodded quietly.

We walked toward the door we had originally entered through.

With a complex expression on her face, the girl walked beside me and then, as if making a decision, turned to ask a question.

Her blue eyes focused on the woman in my arms.

“Hey.”

“Hmm?”

“How... how did you do that?”

“You mean Lady Medro?”

She seemed stunned.

Well, this was likely the first time she’d seen anything like it.

Anyone who had studied dark magic even a little would know that purifying a *manifestation* was an impossible feat.

It defied all logic.

What I had just shown was nothing short of a miracle, transcending reason and theory.

Not being surprised would have been stranger.

“I don’t get it. How any of this is possible.”

Charlotte’s voice was low.

Normally, she was difficult to read, but now, even at a glance, it was clear she was unsettled.

I kept my composure as I replied.

“We can talk about it later. First, let’s get out of here. Shouldn’t that be our priority?”

The *manifestation* of the Conductor had been subdued.

With the heart of the domain shattered, it wouldn’t be long before this space collapsed.

Considering that my remaining energy was low, being trapped in this sealed domain would only complicate matters.

Leaving here took precedence, even if I intended to explain things later.

It was a practical suggestion, but Charlotte seemed to interpret it as me avoiding the question.

With a resigned nod, she spoke.

“Alright... If it’s something you don’t want to talk about, I won’t push.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Don’t worry. I don’t plan to get on your bad side.”

“Hmm.”

Though it seemed she misunderstood, it was better to let it go.

I couldn’t offer a full answer anyway.

The serpent and the little prince.

We merely walked side by side across the sand.

When we reached the threshold leading outside the domain, the first to greet us was none other than Irene.

The girl was squatting nearby, waiting.

“Ah.”

The fox’s ears perked up when our eyes met.

A light returned to her once-dim gaze.

Irene ran over and took Medro from my arms, even as she checked on me.

“Are you hurt?”

“I’m fine.”

“You didn’t overdo it, did you?”

“Not at all. This time it went smoothly. There was no real danger, so you don’t need to worry.”

“That’s a relief.”

Perhaps she had been anxious while waiting.

Even as she nodded, the fox kept circling me, unable to stop.

It seemed she was checking for any injuries.

I found the reaction endearing.

As I patted her head quietly, the other members who had been waiting nearby approached.

The first to speak, as always, was Neria.

“Well done, my lord.”

“Vice-captain.”

“The situation in the basement has been resolved. All survivors have been transported to *Astro’s* hospital and the young mutated ones you ordered isolated have been sent to the headquarters.”

“Do we have an accurate count of the deceased?”

“Of course. In this attack, 128 priests were killed, 37 survived, and 23 mutated beings have been isolated.”

“That’s... a lot of casualties.”

I clicked my tongue in frustration.

I indulged in brief melancholy but quickly shook it off to continue directing the situation.

This was no time to let my guard down.

“Let’s tidy up the area. Dawn is approaching. We need to leave before anyone outside notices anything unusual.”

“As you wish.”

The members busied themselves with their tasks.

I took a deep breath and walked out of the basement.

---

“Cleaning up” didn’t carry much weight.

The place was already in shambles from the cult’s attack.

There was no need to erase our traces.

The pervasive dark magic would make distinguishing anything impossible.

Our focus was on handling the bodies.

*“...”*

At the center of the cathedral.

Beneath the upright cross, those who had met their end lay in repose.

White cloths were placed over the aligned bodies.

Each life laid to rest.

I stood silently, watching.

*‘So many.’*

There were too many we couldn’t save.

128 lives lost.

Feeling the weight of that number, I let out a sigh I hadn’t meant to.

My calm breath carried the scent of blood.

*‘It’s always like this.’*

The feeling was the same every time.

People had been saved.

A disaster that could have escalated had been prevented.

I had acted like a hero saving the world.

Yet, each time, the ones I couldn’t save weighed on me.

Maybe it was foolish to want more.

*‘You can’t save everyone.’*

I knew that.

I wasn’t a god.

I wasn’t omniscient enough to see everything, nor omnipotent enough to achieve it all.

The future I could foresee was limited to what I knew from the original work.

The miracles I could perform were bound by my remaining power.

That

’s why I couldn’t stop every tragedy.

No matter how skilled, a human could not exceed their limits.

So—

*‘Next time.’*

I could only resolve to do better.

To act faster, move more wisely, make better decisions, and save more lives.

It was the same now.

*“...”*

I stood silently, lost in thought.

Just then, a girl with platinum hair approached.

Her blue eyes, steady, met mine.

It was Charlotte.

*“...Your Highness.”*

“Yes.”

The girl stood beside me.

She must have been looking around the basement longer, as she had just returned above ground.

After a moment of silence, Charlotte spoke.

“I owe you. Thanks to you, we found the missing people.”

“It was nothing.”

“I’ll handle the aftermath. Even though the event is resolved, there are still many annoying procedures. With my authority, I can take care of it quickly.”

“The surviving priests will be under our protection for the time being.”

“Yes, that would be wise. If the cult notices survivors from a supposedly wiped-out branch, they’ll find it suspicious.”

“They truly are a nuisance.”

“Aren’t they.”

Charlotte’s reply was characteristically dry.

As we discussed the aftermath, the sun began to rise outside the window.

It was time to return to the headquarters.

“Well... I’ll be off then.”

I turned with a light bow.

My subordinates, now finished with their tasks, awaited me.

Just as I took a step toward them, Charlotte reached out and caught my sleeve.

I turned back to her.

“Yes, Your Highness?”

“I have a favor to ask.”

“What is it?”

It felt sudden, but I listened closely.

She had been glancing my way for a while.

It seemed there was something she wanted to say.

Was it important?

Charlotte hesitated for a moment, then spoke as if making a decision.

Her voice, unusually, trembled.

“I need help.”

“Hmm?”

“You might be able to save me.”

Her blue eyes blinked.

Only my reflection was visible in her transparent pupils.

Her pale lips whispered.

“Please... save us.”

*“...”*

Hearing her words, I stood frozen for a moment.

My lips quivered faintly.

I covered my mouth with my hand.

And then, with a smile twisted in unsettling delight, I thought—

A thrill racing down my spine.

*‘As expected.’*

You took the bait.